🔗 Share this article

Keir Starmer has criticized the shadow justice secretary's remarks about not seeing another white face in parts of Birmingham, suggesting the MP was difficult to regard credibly.

Leadership Campaign Accusations

Starmer implied that his comments were part of a covert Tory leadership campaign and asserted he did not believe they accurately reflected the area of Handsworth.

I find it difficult to regard Robert Jenrick's statements as credible; he's obviously continuing his leadership campaign.

The shadow justice secretary has been criticized for igniting a fire of toxic nationalism after he reiterated his remarks despite backlash from individuals including the ex-Tory mayor of the region, the former mayor.

Community Rejection and Support

Starmer, who avoided directly addressing the comments, said he had agreed with Street's objections of Jenrick.

• The former mayor had stated to BBC Newsnight the remarks were wrong and portrayed the area as a highly cohesive community.
• I think that what Andy Street said was right, Starmer said. Having served as mayor for an extended period, Andy Street possesses deep familiarity with the locality.

Kemi Badenoch, defended him, saying he had made a truthful observation and that there was nothing wrong with making observations.

However, she added on the program: I don’t think this is where the debate should be, about how many faces people see on the street and what they look like.

Party Divisions

Mel Stride became the initial high-ranking Conservative to disassociate from Jenrick over the comments, informing a Politico fringe event that they were not words that I would have used.

Jenrick repeatedly told interviewers at the event that he stood by the remarks and did not resile from them as it would be wrong to shut down an important debate that the nation needs to engage in about integration.

When a Sky News journalist suggested that his comments could embolden extremist organizations, Jenrick said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd question.

Initial Remarks

In his original remarks, the MP said Handsworth was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to. In fact, in the 90 minutes he was recording in the area he observed no other white individuals.

That’s not the kind of country I want to live in. I want to live in a country where people are properly integrated. It’s not about the colour of your skin or your faith – of course it isn’t. But I want people to be living alongside each other, not parallel lives. That’s not the right way we want to live as a country.